By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's golf team opens the 2019-20 season ranked #19 in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll released by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The Bearcats will be in action today and tomorrow, Sept. 14-15, at Pacific Lutheran University's Collegiate Invitational at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington.
Willamette won the 2018-19 Northwest Conference Championship last season and went on to place 13th at the NCAA Division III Championships at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. It was Willamette's best-ever finish at a national championship tournament in men's golf. Prior to joining NCAA Division III for the 1998-99 athletic year, the Bearcats placed 14th at the NAIA Championships in 1975 and 1976.
Returning for the Bearcats from last year's team are Austin Davis (So., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) and Andrew Kibbee (So., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS). Davis tied for 24th place at the NCAA Championships this past spring and finished the season with a 74.30 stroke average. Kibbee achieved a 76.61 stroke average and took first place at the Pacific Spring Invitational.
The Bearcats graduated three seniors from the 2018-19 team, but three new golfers will contribute this season. They are Tyler Shreve (So., Buffalo, WY/Buffalo HS), Carlos Cortes Dequidt (Fy., San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS) and Alex Weirth (Fy., Port Orchard, WA/Crosspoint Academy).